Hounsfield units as a predictor of cage subsidence and clinical outcomes following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
Lower preoperative Hounsfield units were associated with cage subsidence after cervical fusion
Hounsfield units as a predictor of cage subsidence and clinical outcomes following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion) is a standard treatment for cervical degenerative disease, though cage subsidence remains a significant complication that can compromise recovery.
This study aimed to evaluate the association between preoperative cervical hounsfield units measurements and both radiographic cage subsidence and long-term clinical outcomes following single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
A retrospective review was conducted of 39 patients who underwent single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion between 2019 and 2023 with preoperative cervical computed tomography within 6 months and 12-month radiographic and clinical follow-up.
correctly flags most subsidence cases, though threshold needs validation in larger studies
Radiographic subsidence occurred in 15 of 39 patients (38.5%), while clinically significant subsidence occurred in 6 of 39 (15.4%).
Patients with hounsfield units <255 demonstrated higher observed rates of minimal clinically important difference non-attainment for neck disability index and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function in descriptive analyses.
Lower preoperative operative-level hounsfield units was associated with radiographic subsidence and less favorable 12-month patient-reported outcomes following single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
An hounsfield units threshold near 255 demonstrated moderate discrimination for radiographic subsidence. These findings should be considered hypothesis-generating and require validation in larger, standardized cohorts.